Chael
Sonnen was granted a therapeutic use exemption for testosterone
replacement therapy (TRT) by the Nevada Athletic Commission on
Monday, clearing the way for his UFC
148 showdown with Anderson
Silva in Las Vegas on July 7.

The exemption came with a few conditions, however. Sonnen must
adhere to dosage restrictions as determined by NAC Executive
Director Keith Kizer in the days leading up to the event, and the
middleweight title challenger must also submit to a post-fight
blood test at his expense the morning after UFC 148. Additionally,
the commission has requested that Sonnen submit copies of his
therapeutic exemption applications from Texas and Illinois for
further review.

Sonnen was suspended for one year by the California State Athletic
Commission following his loss to Silva at UFC
117 in August 2010, when a post-fight drug test revealed that
Sonnen had elevated testosterone levels. The Oregonian returned to
action last October, scoring a first-round submission over Brian Stann
at UFC 136 in Houston. Most recently, he defeated Michael
Bisping at UFC
on Fox 2 on Jan. 28 in Chicago.

Sonnen said that he offered full disclosure regarding his treatment
on the pre-fight paperwork prior to his last two bouts. Sonnen, who
has been receiving testosterone twice a week since 2008, claims
that he had not revealed his prescribed treatment before previous
bouts because he was instructed not to mention the treatments by
his manager through Kizer. Kizer has denied that any such
conversations took place, and Sonnen confirmed on Monday that he
had never spoken to Kizer directly.

“I was following the instruction I was given. I did follow the
rules. I will not [do it] that way again,” Sonnen told the
commission.

Dr. Timothy Trainor, the assisting physician at the hearing, said
it was appropriate to grant Sonnen an exemption, but that the
fighter needs to be “vigilant” in administering the dosage exactly
as prescribed.

In addressing its protocol for granting therapeutic use exemptions,
the commission acknowledged the likelihood that requests for TRT
will increase, with Kizer referring to the treatment as “the new
Viagara.” The commission was in agreement that an additional expert
would be useful in assisting with future requests. Sonnen also said
that he would be willing to help the commission in an advisory role
regarding TRT.

UFC 148 takes place at MGM Grand Garden Arena and also features an
interim bantamweight title tilt between Urijah Faber
and Renan Barao. The Sonnen-Silva rematch was originally scheduled
to take place at Joao Havelange Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on June
23, but a conflict with a United Nations summit forced the UFC to
move the event to Las Vegas.